In observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we invite the community to join us on January 27 for a program marking the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Presented in partnership with The National WWII Museum, this event focuses on the experiences of Allied liberators and what they encountered upon entering Nazi concentration camps. Our keynote speaker from the National WWII Museum, Dr. Bradley Hart, will examine how soldiers confronted the reality of the camps, how they understood what they were witnessing, and how those moments shaped postwar memory and responsibility. Through the perspective of the liberators, this program honors the victims, acknowledges those who bore witness firsthand, and challenges us to reflect on the moral weight of seeing, knowing, and responding to atrocity.

Dr. Bradley W. Hart is a World War II Military Historian at the Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy. Hart received his PhD in History at Churchill College, University of Cambridge and is the author of two books including Hitler’s American Friends: The Third Reich’s Supporters in the United States (2018). He is also a frequent media commentator and public speaker. He has appeared on television programs including The Rachel Maddow Show, American Experience, America’s Hidden Stories, and numerous others.

Stories We Were Never Told is a film by Jacky Comforty based on paintings by artist Martha Aladjem Bloomfield featuring archival video and film and dubbed testimonies of survivors. The project is a more expressive narrative animating the painting and layering them with the testimonies that describe the painted event. This film visualizes and vocalizes the Jewish narrative in Bulgaria and beyond. Curator Jacky Comforty and Artist Martha Aladjem Bloomfield available for Q&A.

Stories We Were Never Told is a powerful multimedia exhibition that brings to light a largely overlooked and deeply misunderstood chapter of Holocaust history: Bulgaria’s collaboration with Nazi Germany and its consequences for Jewish communities across the Balkans. For decades, a dominant narrative claimed that there was “no Holocaust in Bulgaria.” This exhibition challenges that myth. Through original paintings, survivor testimonies, archival photographs, documents, film, and audio recordings, Stories We Were Never Told reconstructs the complex reality experienced by Jewish communities in Bulgaria, Northern Greece, North Macedonia, and Serbia during World War II.

Stories We Were Never Told is a powerful multimedia exhibition that brings to light a largely overlooked and deeply misunderstood chapter of Holocaust history: Bulgaria’s collaboration with Nazi Germany and its consequences for Jewish communities across the Balkans. For decades, a dominant narrative claimed that there was “no Holocaust in Bulgaria.” This exhibition challenges that myth. Through original paintings, survivor testimonies, archival photographs, documents, film, and audio recordings, Stories We Were Never Told reconstructs the complex reality experienced by Jewish communities in Bulgaria, Northern Greece, North Macedonia, and Serbia during World War II.

Sundays at the Center is a free, family-friendly program series for kids in grades K through 6. Beat the summer heat and join us indoors for a fun and educational experience, featuring engaging story times and creative arts & crafts.

This documentary sheds light on the untold stories of female Holocaust survivors, focusing on those who were imprisoned in the Ravensbrück concentration camp. The film explores their harrowing experiences, resilience, and the struggle to have their stories recognized and remembered. 

Sundays at the Center is a free, family-friendly program series for kids in grades K through 6. Beat the summer heat and join us indoors for a fun and educational experience, featuring engaging story times and creative arts & crafts.

The Holocaust commemoration series honors the memory of victims and survivors while encouraging reflection on how to prevent such atrocities in the future. By fostering dialogue and engagement, these commemorations underscore the enduring importance of remembrance and promote tolerance, empathy, and justice.

Gather with us to observe Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass), also called the November Pogrom, marking the intensification of terror against the Jews in the Third Reich. Speaker details to come. 

"Dismantling Hate: Tackling Antisemitism Together" is a comprehensive four-part workshop series that equips participants with the knowledge and tools to confront antisemitism in all its forms. Through interactive activities, presentations, and discussions, participants will explore its historical roots, contemporary manifestations, and effective strategies for addressing it in various contexts, while emphasizing the importance of allyship and collective action. Session speaker information to come. 

Session 4 will use the Holocaust and other instances of antisemitism in history to reflect on and honor the memory of victims and prevent future atrocities. 

Sundays at the Center is a free, family-friendly program series for kids in grades K through 6. Beat the summer heat and join us indoors for a fun and educational experience, featuring engaging story times and creative arts & crafts.

This year’s book club explores published works by and about women during the Holocaust, delving into their unique experiences and perspectives. Each session includes in-depth discussions that provide historical context and foster reflection on the impact and legacy of these narratives. 

Author Toby Knobel Fluek recounts her childhood in a small Polish village before and during the Holocaust. Through her vivid memories and illustrations, Fluek preserves the rich traditions of Jewish life in Poland and the devastation that followed, offering a poignant tribute to a lost world. 

Sundays at the Center is a free, family-friendly program series for kids in grades K through 6. Beat the summer heat and join us indoors for a fun and educational experience, featuring engaging story times and creative arts & crafts.

Dr. Amra Sabic-El-Rayess: “Fighting Hate Crimes with Early Education” 

"Crucial Conversations for a Unified Florida" is a programming series addressing antisemitism and discrimination in Florida through engaging panels and keynotes. The events aim to unify communities by fostering dialogue, awareness, and strategies to combat intolerance statewide. 

Join us for an engaging lecture by Dr. Amra Sabic-El-Rayess, a survivor of the Bosnian Genocide and associate professor of practice at Teachers College, Columbia University, as she discusses the “Fight Hate Crimes with Early Education” Program. Originally developed by Columbia University's International Interfaith Research Lab, this program centers on creating and sharing training methods to help educators promote inclusiveness and combat divisiveness, especially among young students. 

Join us for Founder’s Fest!

As part of our Community Connections program, Founder’s Fest is a family-friendly gathering designed to bring the Central Florida community together in a relaxed setting while welcoming new faces. This year, we’re celebrating 43 years of the Holocaust Center with food, activities, and music to honor our history and enjoy being part of this vibrant community!

This documentary uncovers the fascinating life of actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr. The film explores her groundbreaking contributions to technology, including her role in developing a frequency-hopping spread spectrum that laid the groundwork for modern wireless communication, alongside her Hollywood career. 

Produced by Yad Vashem, Spots of Light gives expression to the unique voices of Jewish women in the Holocaust: their choices and responses in the face of evil, and the brutality and relentless hardships they were forced to grapple with.

The exhibition reveals poignant personal stories behind historical events, providing faces and voices within the darkness and silence, and features nine aspects of Jewish women’s daily lives during the Holocaust.

Sundays at the Center is a free, family-friendly program series for kids in grades K through 6. Beat the summer heat and join us indoors for a fun and educational experience, featuring engaging story times and creative arts & crafts.

"Dismantling Hate: Tackling Antisemitism Together" is a comprehensive four-part workshop series that equips participants with the knowledge and tools to confront antisemitism in all its forms. Through interactive activities, presentations, and discussions, participants will explore its historical roots, contemporary manifestations, and effective strategies for addressing it in various contexts, while emphasizing the importance of allyship and collective action. Session speaker information to come. 

Session 3 will address the rise of online antisemitism and promote digital literacy skills to identify and combat hate speech online. 

Join us for a night at the Catskills, featuring local comedians, cocktails, and light snacks. Come dressed in your best retro Catskills attire and enjoy an evening of laughter, nostalgia, and community fun! 

Sundays at the Center is a free, family-friendly program series for kids in grades K through 6. Beat the summer heat and join us indoors for a fun and educational experience, featuring engaging story times and creative arts & crafts.

This year's summer youth series uniquely engages young people in Holocaust education through interactive activities and discussions, with a special focus on Krav Maga and its connection to Holocaust history. Hosted in partnership with Shaan Saar Orlando, this series inspires the next generation to embrace values of respect, awareness, and social responsibility. 

This year’s book club explores published works by and about women during the Holocaust, delving into their unique experiences and perspectives. Each session includes in-depth discussions that provide historical context and foster reflection on the impact and legacy of these narratives. 

Author Judy Rakowsky delves into her family’s Holocaust history after discovering a mass grave in a Polish garden. This memoir traces her quest for justice and truth, as she uncovers long-buried secrets and confronts the lingering impact of the Holocaust on survivors and their descendants. 

Sundays at the Center is a free, family-friendly program series for kids in grades K through 6. Beat the summer heat and join us indoors for a fun and educational experience, featuring engaging story times and creative arts & crafts.

This year's summer youth series uniquely engages young people in Holocaust education through interactive activities and discussions, with a special focus on Krav Maga and its connection to Holocaust history. Hosted in partnership with Shaan Saar Orlando, this series inspires the next generation to embrace values of respect, awareness, and social responsibility. 

This documentary explores the extraordinary lives of Hans and Margret Rey, the Jewish couple who created the beloved children's character, Curious George. The film highlights their escape from Nazi-occupied France, their creativity, and how their adventures shaped the iconic series. 

Margret Rey and the Making of Curious George

This exhibit uncovers the incredible story of Margret Rey, a Jewish woman who, with her husband, escaped Nazi-occupied France on handmade bikes, carrying the manuscript of Curious George. This exhibit highlights their resilience and creativity, offering a unique look into the origins of a beloved children's classic. 

Sundays at the Center is a free, family-friendly program series for kids in grades K through 6. Beat the summer heat and join us indoors for a fun and educational experience, featuring engaging story times and creative arts & crafts.

This year's summer youth series uniquely engages young people in Holocaust education through interactive activities and discussions, with a special focus on Krav Maga and its connection to Holocaust history. Hosted in partnership with Shaan Saar Orlando, this series inspires the next generation to embrace values of respect, awareness, and social responsibility. 

"Dismantling Hate: Tackling Antisemitism Together" is a comprehensive four-part workshop series that equips participants with the knowledge and tools to confront antisemitism in all its forms. Through interactive activities, presentations, and discussions, participants will explore its historical roots, contemporary manifestations, and effective strategies for addressing it in various contexts, while emphasizing the importance of allyship and collective action. Session speaker information to come. 

Session 2 will address common stereotypes, misconceptions, and myths about Jewish people and Judaism.